New auditorium for campus

The Hawaii State Legislature during its 2013 session allocated $14,491,000 for the design and construction of a new King Kekaulike auditorium. The auditorium has been part of King Kekaulike’s master plan since the school opened in 1995 and will serve as a learning center for visual and performing arts. The facility will be located on what is now an open area north of the main entrance, between the administration building and football field.

The estimated cost of the project is $29 million for phase-one and $13 million for phase-two. Phase one includes a 400-seat, 22,000 square-foot performance facility with a lobby, house, stage and back-of-house support functions. The second calls for building a nearly 12,300-square-foot “black box” space for free-form performances, instructional areas and administrative offices.

Funding for the project must be “released” by the governor. In hopes to move the project forward, the alumni association will be lobbying Governor Abercrombie, requesting his consideration for the funding to be released. Design funds of approximately $600,000 already have been allocated for initial design of the project’s first phase.